Soldiers and veterans compete in the shooting competition at the Pacific Regional Warrior Game Trials 2017 at Schofield Barracks. Airsoft is a hobby that began in Japan in the late 1970’s. The sport was created to provide an alternative for gun hobbyists, because the Japanese government outlawed gun ownership. The weapons look very similar to real firearms with the exception of their bright orange tips and 6mm plastic ball bearing ammunition. The BB’s can hurt, but cause minimal skin damage. Safety is always a priority when participating in airsoft, players are required to wear eye protection at all times during game play. Several players choose to wear other protective gear such as face masks, heavy clothing and hats to cover as much of their body as possible, so the BB’s don’t leave marks. Shooting is one of the most popular events of the Warrior Game Trials. These competitions take place during November, which also coincides with Warrior Care Month. During Warrior Care Month we focus on activities that allow us to communicate the Army’s commitment to wounded, ill, and injured soldiers, their families, and caregivers, and to emphasize Warrior Transition Unit Soldiers’ number one priority is to work as hard on their recovery as they work on defending the nation.

Shooting became a medal sport at the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto. Competitors use air pistols and air rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary, electronic target.

Shooting categories are air pistol, air rifle (standing) and air rifle (prone), all at a distance of 10 meters.

Athletes compete in different classification categories based on functional abilities, including impaired muscle power/range of movement, limb deficiency and visual impairment (VI).

VI shooters compete in a separate classification than sighted shooters

Shooting Competition Results

Prone Rifle

Gold, Staff Sgt. James Maarsingh, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Silver, Sgt. Jhunny Beltran, Schofield Barracks

Bronze, Spc. Angela Euson, Fort Lewis

Prone Rifle-SH2

Gold, reservist Heather Moran

Silver, Staff Sgt. Felix Correa, Fort Lewis

Bronze, veteran Jerome Fa’asu

Pistol

Gold, Sgt. Jhunny Beltran, Schofield Barracks

Silver, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Timothy Millard, Fort Lewis

Bronze, Spc. Brooke Conley, Schofield Barracks

Soldiers and veterans compete in the shooting competition at the Pacific Regional Warrior Game Trials 2017 at Schofield Barracks.
Airsoft is a hobby that began in Japan in the late 1970’s.

U.S. Army Spc. Ashley Wilson, a Soldier with the Joint Base Lewis – McChord Warrior Transition Battalion, competes in the shooting competition at the Pacific Regional Warrior Game Trials 2017 at Schofield Barracks.

“I’m competing in the archery competition because I wanted a new challenge; wanted to try something different as I’ve never done this before,” said Dizon, who was injured during a deployment in Iraq. “I’m really excited about this competition.”

Archery competitions for those with physical impairments date back to 1948, becoming one of the original Paralympic sports at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games.

Participants shoot compound and recurve bows from a standing or seated position. Athletes compete in different classification categories based on functional abilities, including impaired muscle power/range of movement, limb deficiency and visual impairment.

VI archers compete in a separate classification than sighted archers. All VI archers wear blindfolds and shoot with a tactile sight. Men and women are combined for all archery events.

A recurve bow has a distinctive outward curve at the top. A compound bow features mechanical pulleys, telescopic sights and release aids to assist in accuracy. Depending on athlete classification, some competitors use customized release aids using their jaw, chin or teeth.